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Algeria Appoints New Prime Minister | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A picture taken on February 2, 2016 shows Abdelmadjid Tebboune during a meeting of the National Liberation Front (FLN) in Algeria / AFP PHOTO / RYAD KRAMDI


Algiers — Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Wednesday appointed Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who was housing minister, the new prime minister, replacing Abdelmalek Sellal in the wake of parliamentary elections.

The president’s office, quoted by national news agency Algeria Press Service (APS), said the move to appoint a new premier came after Sellal submitted his government’s resignation to Bouteflika following the sitting of a new national assembly on Tuesday.

On May 04, National Liberation Front (FLN) and its ruling coalition won a clear majority parliamentary elections.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Algerian presidency which said: “Following the Constitutional Council’s announcement of the final results of recent legislative polls, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal submitted his resignation today to President Bouteflika.

“The president congratulated Sellal and members of his government for their good performance during their time in office,” it added.

The statement explained that in accordance with Article 91, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, the President, following consultation with the parliamentary majority, has appointed Abdelmadjid Tebboune Premier.

Bouteflika also instructed members of the resigning government to attend to the current affairs of their respective sectors, pending the appointment of the government.

The announcement of the new cabinet is expected soon and will most probably include members of majority parties FLN and Rally for Hope in Algeria (TAJ).

Islamist party Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP), said the party and its ally the Front for Change would have won if there had not been any fraud and refused Bouteflika’s suggestion to join the new government.

MSP said that the new government will not be able to face the challenges and dangers of the coming phase.

Tebboune, 71, has been minister of housing since 2012. He is seen to be close to the president and his brother al-Saeed Bouteflika who is the actual president of the country since President Bouteflika suffered a stroke in 2013.

In other news, Deputy Defense Minister and Army Chief of Staff Ahmed Gaid Saleh condemned Tuesday the statements of the opposition claiming military personnel were instructed to vote for certain candidates, describing those statements as: “incorrect, inappropriate, and unacceptable.”

Saleh didn’t explain at whom his statements were directed but media was under the impression that he was responding to Secretary General of the Workers’ Party Louisa Hanoun. Hanoun criticized the performance of the military during the elections.

Saleh stressed that the leadership was keen that all military personnel vote in elections all across Algeria.

He explained that this had happened in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Algeria and in full coordination with the Ministry of Interior.